Ergonomic Devices. Review on General Tips on Computers

Hello friends,

Just writing a couple of lines regarding mice and keyboards. Have placed this review in the'General Advice on Computers' category, so that it would help people seeking to buy new computers, to make good and logical choices when it comes to ergonomic devices as these.

The chair, mouse and the keyboard are the primary areas where ergonomics should be applied in a work environment. Anti-glare screens meant to be placed on the monitor screen reduce the glare inherent in CRT displays that strain the eyes.

Monitors should be placed to offer a straight line of sight. While the most common arrangement is on top of the table, submerged monitors that are placed within the table, such as in the case of newsreaders and bank officials, need the user to look down upon the screen, thus relaxing the neck muscles. Keyboards and mice are the source of RSI(Repetitive Strain Injuries) and CTS(Carpal Tunnel Syndrome), hence it is important that you choose one that minimises the stress on your wrists and shoulders. Most keyboards today, such as the ones from Logitech and Microsoft, come with palm rests that support your wrists. The buttons should be soft to touch and not require too much pressure. The customisable buttons, if any, should be placed within reach of the fingers. Curved keyboards, termed as Natural Keyboards, are ideal since they adapt to the natural positioning of the palms. Other ergonomic options are split keyboards, such as the Comfort Keyboard, which can be separated into two or more parts, but they are not easily available. These are adjustable in height, can be rotated and tilted up to 90 degrees for maximum comfort. Small keyboards made for laptops should be avoided.

The mouse can also be an area of weakness because of the strain it puts on the wrist and the finger joints. The mouse should be large enough to fit snugly into the palm and raised enough from the centre so that the wrist is parallel to the surface area on which the mouse is placed - it should not require the wrist to be rested on the table. The buttons should not be too tacky and soft to press; a scroll wheel is advisable. Ideally, the mouse should be customisable for both left and right hand users, and hence it should be symmetrical. The extra customisable buttons should be placed neither too near, nor too far, and many come with a palm rest.

P. S. All technical details and specifications taken from various computer magazines. RSI and CTS may not be understood by some MS members. Will research on these topics and write up a review on them in due course of time. Thanks .!